2007-2008 cheer parent thread

[tnkrbell]

Our official season starts on Tuesday!!! Monday we are having a mom/daughter night!! I am very excited for this season!!
WHOO HOO!!

 

[SuBeat]

To the poster that is unsure her daughter can get a back handspring at 5'7"... she can, it may just take a little bit of bribing. Once my mom knew I was good enough to do it w/o a spotter but I just wouldn't, she promised me $1 for ever one I threw one night and I came home with $25 and a newly acquired skill

My DD was capable, but afraid, of doing her BHS without a spot for 2 years! When she finally did it, she got a kitten.

 

[ntburns22]

Our gym is looking for warm ups that will fit a child who probably wears a 5. Does anyone know of a brand that makes a youth xsmall?

Thanks

Sorry, I wish I could help. We have a hard time finding uniforms small enough for girls in a 2T without having to take them apart to make them smaller.

 

[goofy!]

Our coaches are strict and tough, but use LOTS of positive reinforcement. In fact, their mission is to make sure each and every cheerleader feels a part of the Suns family and feels accomplished.

Especially with the little ones. You see lots of stickers being earned on practice uniforms and lots of praise.

Since I don't have any kids on the regular competitive teams, I am not as familiar with cheer as some cheer moms, but from my observation the positive reinforcement method works pretty well with the kids in the gym. I think our gym does pretty well if the competitions our special needs teams went to are any indication. Last Colorado State championships, the gym brought 10 teams including the 2 rec teams and the special needs team. Came home with 10 state championships and level 1,2,3, and 5 Grand Champions (didn't have any level 4's).

At Nationals in Anaheim - took 8 teams -all teams including special needs but not the 2 rec teams. Came home with 4 National Championships, 4 second places, 1 Grand championship, judges choice award for the 2nd place senior unlimited coed level 5 pyramid and the coveted sportmanship award.

There is a great video on the Suns website that tells what the gym is about. The link is about 1/3 of the way down on the front page of the website. www.cheercentralsuns.com

 

[Mi3stooges]

So let me first start off by saying I am not a cheer mommy. I am a former cheerleader of 13 years. I love reading about everyone's kids as cheerleading WAS MY LIFE! I also wanted to tell some of the parents that think 3 nights a week is a lot, what they may be getting into!

I cheered for my local football program from 5 years old till about 12yo. That is when I started cheering for the Dragons of NJ (no longer a team) and then Cheer Tech Titans (again no longer a team, but now Cheer Tech holds several huge competitions all over the US). When I got to HS I was one of three freshman to make varsity because I had a back handspring (the team was not all that good). I remained on the Titans until my sophomore year when my mom finally talked me into trying out for New Jersey Spirit Explosion because they were better. I made their newly formed Senior Co-ed team (I am 5'7" so I was a spotter for the single base stunts). I practiced with my HS team, 5 days a week, from 3pm (when school ended) till 5pm. I then would go home, grab a quick dinner, and then go to Co-Ed practice Tuesday and Thursday night 7pm-9pm and Sunday from 6-9. It was about a 45 min drive to practice. Halfway through the year a girl on the Senior team injured herself and the coach asked me to double team. This meant adding M-W-F practices to my schedule as well. IT WAS ALL WORTH IT! Probably one of the best years of my life. We competed in Texas at the NCA Nationals (probably the biggest all-star competition of the time; Worlds was not around then) and took 2nd place to the amazing Cheer Athletics (if you are involved in all-star cheerleading, you have probably heard of CA, if not, check out their website and their gym www.cheerathletics.com --- doctor, tanning bed, break rooms, tumble track, etc all in one gym ). We also went to UCA nationals in WDW and took 6th (due to a girl tearing every ligament in her ankle during finals; she's fine now and was cheering within a year). My junior and senior year I took it a little bit easier and only cheered for HS and the Senior Intermediate team at NJSE. I miss the competition life, the weekends away from home, the nights of curling hair, the practices till 11pm the night b4 a comp cause we just haven't got it yet, and everything else that came along with it.

I also want to say, don't be afraid to push your kid a little bit. I argued over switching teams with my mom for so long because I had fun on the team that never won but when I finally switched I realized that you actually have fun when you are winning too and doing the best that you can.

To the poster that is unsure her daughter can get a back handspring at 5'7"... she can, it may just take a little bit of bribing. Once my mom knew I was good enough to do it w/o a spotter but I just wouldn't, she promised me $1 for ever one I threw one night and I came home with $25 and a newly acquired skill

Here is a link to my all-star programs website, although I am no longer cheering there, or cheering at all but they are still awesome!

http://www.njseallstars.com/cd/


WATCH THESE TO BE AMAZED... (Cheer Athletics this year at Worlds)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYLeuMaEjTY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrkViHQbEyw

YIKES!!!

 

[Rock'n Robin]

It's my DD that doesn't have the handspring. She has never taken gymnastics. She's had 12 years of dance. The thing is she does not have room in her schedule to take any type of gymnastics classes, so if she doesn't learn it at cheerleading she isn't going to get it.
They actually competed in a competition on Friday. It was insane! It was at the Wood county Fair. The team that won peewee, jr. high and small varsity were all from the same school 3 hours away. Our girls did their best but were not even close to placing. They just didn't have the gimmicks and polish the other teams did. But the other teams practice a lot more. Most of the girls on our squad have other interests--drama, music, one girl volunteers at the zoo--so they don't have time or interest in practicing any more than they do.
I do want to say their was an all-star team there--cheer star extreme. They were the most annoying parents I have ever seen. These poor little girls had an inch of glitter eye shadow. And each group was alone in their division--for example junior all-star division only had their junior squad--yet when they won their division (of course--no competition) the parents squealed and acted so surprised! I imagine they will put the trophies in their waiting room to recruit new kids but never tell the incoming parents that they won them because they had no competition!
Robin M.

 

[futreWDI]

Our gym is looking for warm ups that will fit a child who probably wears a 5. Does anyone know of a brand that makes a youth xsmall?

Thanks

I found a couple of companies that offer Y-XS:

Broadway Cheer
http://www.broadwayalbion.com/index.html

Campus Teamwear
http://www.cheerleadingonline.com/shop.axd/Default

CranBarry
http://cranbarry.com/cheerleading/index.html

I only listed three companies, although I found a couple more. I listed the ones I knew to be quite respectable, so that you wouldn't wait forever to get your warm-ups. Ii's like anything else, ordering uniforms, order from a decent company, to guarantee nothing wrong and timely delivery.

The website www.cheerleading.net has a page dedicated to suppliers. There are many other links to uniform companies etc. here but as I said before, make sure the company is respectable, otherwise you will order YXS and by the time they get there, the kids will be in adult sizes

If you need anything else, I'd be glad to help!

 

[futreWDI]

I do want to say their was an all-star team there--cheer star extreme. They were the most annoying parents I have ever seen. These poor little girls had an inch of glitter eye shadow. And each group was alone in their division--for example junior all-star division only had their junior squad--yet when they won their division (of course--no competition) the parents squealed and acted so surprised! I imagine they will put the trophies in their waiting room to recruit new kids but never tell the incoming parents that they won them because they had no competition

The reason their is an inch and a half of glitter makeup is because when you compete in nationals, you are under theatrical stage lighting. I understand that at the fair, there isn't this type of lighting, but you wear the makeup all year so that you get used to wearing it. If you do not wear make up like this in nationals, your faces are washed out and you can barely see any facial expression, etc. It is show makeup.

Even if you are the only one in your division, YOU CAN LOSE. In pretty much every cheerleading competition, there are rules when there is only one team that set a scoring bar you must achieve to get a trophy. I have seen a team get 2nd place and be the only team in the division because they did not reach the right amount of points for first.

 

[tnkrbell]

The reason their is an inch and a half of glitter makeup is because when you compete in nationals, you are under theatrical stage lighting. I understand that at the fair, there isn't this type of lighting, but you wear the makeup all year so that you get used to wearing it. If you do not wear make up like this in nationals, your faces are washed out and you can barely see any facial expression, etc. It is show makeup.

So true!! Under that lighting without it the judges and crowd can not see their facial expressions which add so much to a routine.
I think it can be done tasteful even if it is sparkly!!

 

[goofy!]

The makeup does take some getting used to . But when you think of it as stage makeup for the aforementioned lights and the fact that the judges are usually a bit removed from the floor, it makes sense.

We don't use glitter eyeshadow, but we do have a pot of glitter that we dab on after the eye makeup and we are told to allow some to lightly fall on the cheeks.

Last year, our makeup was a white and light blue eye (think that blue from the 70's) with the liner not to extend past the corner of the eye. Then we dabbed the glitter over the entire lid. We had a choice of 3 different color lipsticks - all a deep red but with different tones to accent different skin tones and a mauve or burgandy blush. We have our first parent meeting next week to reveal what this season's hair and makeup will be.

What is/was everybody else's makeup?

Our team is rather conservative with their makeup. And the majority of the teams I have observed do their makeup tastefully.

But I would guess for those not used to seeing competition makeup, even the most tasteful might look garish.

 

[tnkrbell]

Goofy, Your gym is just GORGEOUS!!

 

[Mom21]

Just wanted to join in.

Hi tinkrbell haven't chatted in a while.

We live near Tink but my dd cheers for Elite in Davie.
My dd is entering her third year. She made Youth. They just split the team on Monday. She is staying on Level 2. He made a Level 3 team made up of girls who mostly have their tucks. Some have layouts and fulls but of course they can't do that on a 3. By comp time he may move them to a 4 and our team to a 3. (OK i don't think so but what do I know....LOL)

Fees:
Yearly fees run from $1200-2000. Ours this year was about $1200 but we already owned the uniform and warmups. The higher number is for new people and those at a higher level. Monthly fees are $115-125 for 1 and 1/2 to 2 hours 2 days a week. Privates are $40 per hour and tumbling classes are $10. The yearly fees include:
2 sets of practice clothes
choreography (Ray Jasper group of Bring It On fame--let me just say "Not so impressed....but whatever")
comp fees
uniform if needed

Shoes not included. Have to purchase separately.

Our competitions for this year:
Dec 9 Atlantic Cheer and Dance Miami
jan 12 FCDA Boca
Jan25/26 Spirit Orlando
Feb 2 Miami Heat Classic--Spirit Cheer Miami
March 15-16 USCA miami
April 12/13 JAM Fest Tampa

In addition our Level 4 and 5 will go to Washington DC and Atlanta.

Hope to see you all at some competitions. I'll be the fat lady in the "Cheer Mom" hat.........

 

[vern]

Texas Cheerleader Mom" types of moms drive me nuts thinking cheerleading is the beginning and end of the universe!

some of the coaches think so tooo!!!!!!!!!!

My dd10 cheered for the last 3 years and last year she was cut because she didn't smile! omg the thing is she started cheer camp at 8am i picked her up at 3:30 and went to "practice"(actually turned out to be try-outs & they never told parents) untill 8pm and to top it off her great grammy passed away from cancer on the 2nd day of practice. Now she won't try anything even soccer that she loves. It's so sad because they got a new coordinator this year and noone is to be cut from a team and not to mention her jr peewee coach is now the pee wee coach..they also got rid of the old peewee coach who cut my dd for not smiling. what comes around goes around! thanks for letting me vent

 

[Cinderellafifi]

I will see if I can post one and start this!!!
Oh and I am not done recruiting your little mouseketeer to the Gemz!!!!!

LOL After reading the cost, I would need a second job!

Seriously, I know it is something she would love...

 

[tnkrbell]

Hi tinkrbell haven't chatted in a while.

HEY!!!! Glad you found the thread!!!!! I figured we could use a new one for this season!!
We are doing the FCDA one in Boca too!!!!! We HAVE to meet up there!!!

 

[tnkrbell]

LOL After reading the cost, I would need a second job!

You can get sponsors and we do fundraising etc... Also the fee's are broken down into payments so it is not all at once!! I think she/you would love it!!

 

[5Slays]

Our girls don't wear a lot of makeup. Pretty much each girl is on their own and they use whatever their mom is comfortable with. That may change this year, with the changes that have been happening at our gym, so right now we are just playing it by ear.

 

[goofy!]

Goofy, Your gym is just GORGEOUS!!

Your Gemz are great too!

Anyway, I'd say thank you, but I had nothing to do with it The owners just built this gym a little over a year ago. I have no idea how it ranks with other teams across the country, but it seems to get a lot of press, so I am guessing it is a state of the art facility. It certainly is much nicer than the old facility.

I am really enjoying hearing about other cheer gyms and how they run their programs. We are so new to the cheer world, and in a different situation with the special needs team that my learning curve has been much slower than in most sports my kids participate in. So, it has been great reading everybody's posts here and visiting their websites. It has been a great learning experience.

Thanks all for sharing!

 

[Jasminesmommy]

My DD is 9 and going on her third year in cheer. She is on Dreamquest Allstars. She is on Junior L5 this year and may cross down to help the youth L3 team as well. She practices Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5-8. Tumbles on mondays and Sat a hour each day and sometimes for a hour after cheer practice.
Here is our price breakdown
Uniform $320 ( We have new ones this year)
Shoes $40-60
Bows $40 (may be cheaper when they decide)
Makeup $40
Tuition $140 monthly ( I clean gym so free for me)
Competition fees $960 We have 14 competitions so far
Privates $30 half a hour
Cheer Camp $190
Booster club$ 250 which pays for conference rooms so we don't sit in the middle of floor and have a place to rest and practice since competitions can be VERY long

We do Fundraising and work fundraising at concerts to help with cost.

 

[Jasminesmommy]

Here is or senior coed team getting there world bid
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPqas0YFxA4

Here is All girl
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnMgreAmzzA&mode=related&search=

And my DD team juniors My DD is the one in the begining down on the floor and tumbles across the screen in the start of song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BydPf2oj6J4&mode=related&search=